BRITAIN & THE TRANSVAAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 11718, 19 July 1901, Page 2

BRITAIN & TH E TRANSVAAL.

STEYN ESCAPES IN HIS NIGHTSHIRT. United-Press Association. — By Ekcfc;ic Taleeraph. — Copyrieht. Received July 13, 10.43 p.m. London, July 18.— Mr Bennett Burleigb states that killing the wounded at Vlakfontein is not well authenticated The outrage was the work of one or two Boers. The Standard's Pretoria correspondent says that Steyn was asleep when Reitz was surprised. He escaped in his nightshirt and jumped on a horse. A rifleman fired at him but miss°.d. Lieutenant French, New Zealand Bushmen, has sailed for England. SHARP SKIRMISH NEAR ALIWAL NORTH. TWO BOER OFFICERS KILLED. Received July 19, 8.57 a.m. London, July 18 —A sharp skirmish took place near Aliwal North on Sunday, when seven of the Ist Connaughts were killed and 20 wounded. Lord Kitchener has reached Elandsfontein, returning from the Capa. He reports that Captain Charles Botha, son of Philip Botha, and Lieutenant Humun, a field cornet, have been killed in Orange Colony. General Featherstonhaugh rescued 13 Boers on parole whom the Boers held as prisoners because they refused to break their pledge. The rebels, Bladseen and Kloof , have been courtmartialled at Dordrecht and Stevensburg; and found guilty of treason and attempted murder. There are 7000 refugees in camp at the Potchefstroom blockhouses, and their numbers are steadily augmenting in the Transvaal. Small numbers are daily surrendering in West and North Transvaal and the Kaffir River district of Orange. I Olive Sehreiner is accorded the utmost freedom at Hanover, where martial law exists. . ; THE RETURN OF COLONEL DAVIES. RECEPTION AT INGLEWOOD. = [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT! Rain came down in torrents on Thursday morning, and interfered with, the decorations which had been decided on by the Reception Committee and townspeople to ■ celebrate the return of Colonel Davies. Nevertheless the Committee went to work in the rain, and prepared the platform where it was proposed to present the address, the platform was very prettily decorated with ferns and bunting, and a line of flags' was hung across the road from the Inglewood Hotel to the platform, and looked very nice indeed. In the afternoon the weather improved, and a long time before the train, was due people began to wend their way towards the station. A place was selected on the platform where the Colonel was to get off the. train, ana was guarded by. the Volunteers and Mounted Rifles, which was a very necessary precaution, for by the time the train arrived there was a large crowd of anxious spectators eager to get the first glimpse of our distinguished officer. On the arrival of the train the Inglewood Brass Band played a suitable selection.. Mr Nicholls, Chairman of the Inglewood Town Board, and Captain Bartlett, of the Hawera Mounted Rifles, formally welcomed Colonel Davies home. a=d after, shaking hands with a few of his friends, he and Mrs Davies were conveyed to a carriage drawn by Troopers Hansen, Payne, Valintine (2), Palmer, and Hawkins, of the First Contingent, and Trooper Crean, of the Fourth Contingent. The carriage was then conveyed along Moa-street over the railway line and up the Mountain Road, to the place where the address was to be presented. A good muster of Mounted troops formed a guard for the Colonel and Mrs Davies, and the procession was all that could be desired. . "?*■■ ■ " On his arrival at the platfinm the Colonel was handed over to the tion Committee. Mr Nicholson, receiving Colonel Davies, said tharitPgave him the greatest pleasure to have the honour of welcoming Colonel Davies home, and he thanked him on behalf of the people of Taranaki for the way in which he had carried out his arduous duties Tight through the campaign. He then read the illuminated address to' the Colonel, which was as follows :—: — . . . M To Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Hutton Davies; C.B. On behalf of your fellow-settlers of Taranaki we, the undersigned, beg to give you a hearty welcome home. - Throughout the TransyaaLwar we have watched k your career with great interest and pride, and we feel that New Zealand owes yon her thanks, not only for the distinguished services rendered by you, but also for the care that .you have taken of those of her sons entrusted to your charge, ' t ; We congratulate you on your speedy and well earned promotion and on the high honour bestowed upon you by the Empire, • We tender you our best wishes for your long life and further advanceMent, and' beg to express our' keen sympathy with Mrs DaVieV in her ; anxiety dnriugJ ynur absence and in her pleasure at yotir safe return B. H. Nicholls, Chairman Inglewood Town Board. E. Maxwell, New- Plymouth Harbour Board. , ' H. Okey/TaranaVi 1 County Council. R, Pigott, Clifton County Council. H. Trimble, Moa Roafl Board. Colonel Davies thanked the people for the kind and enthusiastic manner in which he had been received by the people of Inglewood and for the address that bad been presented to him by the people of Taranaki. He said that the people were really too good to them. Ever since landing at the Bluff to the time of his arrival in Inglewood they had had scarcely anything but splendid recentious and good treatment. He said that the men who did the fighting were the ones who" should have' the honours of war, as it was they who had to do the work, and the officers who are at the head of the men get all the Brake, With regard to the expression, of sympathy for Mrs Davies.. in her- anxiety during his absence,, he said it waa tlte wives and daughters of thsse who. had been to the w.ar who. ha 3to put up with the greatest hardships, and also the nurses who, had gone to the front to look after the aick and wounded. As for the men, they could look after themselves, and it was more of a " holiday trip "' for them. He said that during the campaign he had fought with the first, Second, Third 1 and Fourth Contingents^ and he fourid them all made of the same material, and if it was ever bis lot to go into action again he wosd not ask for anything fetter than the New Zealand Boys.. He again thanked the people for the kjnd and hearty w?y thai he and. MrtPAYieft had been Received.. . ;; : Cap.ta.in, BarUe^,' 4 af ih,e. Hawera Mounted Rifles, then stepped forward an,d s^id that on behalf of the troop of which he was proud to be Captain, he had the pleasant duty bestowed upon 1 him of presenting Colonel Davies with a horse. He hoped, that to Bomo extent the horse he wasrio give him would take tha place of the faithful animal the Colonel had taken with him to the war, and which had died during the campaign. He hoped the Colonel Would loag be spared to be amongst lhem X ajad that the animal would be some, recompense for the one that ho had. fast, Colonel navies, who was taken by surprise at the handsome gift, and was .visibly affected, said that a more appropriate gift could not have been given him, and he just thanked the members of his old corps. But when the Cojtanel thanks them he does it in a way that they know it comes from the right place, thjQ, bottom of his heart, and he has a, good big one. **' llv Colonel Davies then down and had a good look at bii new charger,

which is a fine black horse, an ex-racer known to most sporting men as " Royal Guard." After the ceremony the troopers gave three hearty cheers for the Colonel and Mrs Davies; they were then conveyed to the carriage, and drawn home by the troopers before mentioned^ and were cheered and cheered again and again along the route. Great enthusiasm was shown right through, and the committee and troops are to be congratulated on the way the reception was carried out. The address, which reposed in 8 handsome cover of Morocco leather with . gilt facings, had been splendidly executed v by Mr Hooker, of New Plymouth. At the head was a faithful representation of Mount Egmont viewed from TnglewooJ, and, symbolic of the Colonel's recent" connection with the war, was a device of a trooper's hat above crossed rifle and sword, and flanking the address on either i side were the Union J«o>k and New Zealand ensign. The whole of the work was done in a very artistic manner. Our report of the Smoko Concert Held in the evening is crowded out to-day. WAITABA TROOPERS WELCOMED. (TELEGRAPHED BY O,UR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Waitara, July 19.— Troopers Thornton, Joll, and A: Johnston arrived home this morning. They were accorded a hearty reception, a large number of people turning, out to welcome thlin. They were met at the Drill Shed by Mr Ogle, Chairman of the Town Board, wHd, on behalf of the citizens, expressed His pleasure at the conduct of the men, who upheld the reputation they, went iirif with. He was glad: to see them btqk safe, and the gathering was a" testimony to the public feeling in the matter* Hearty cheers were then given. , • * ,- Trooper Joll replied on behalf of. us comrades, thanking them for the reception. , , . Other tampers are expected by the ' evening train. RETURNED TROOPERS. . LOCAL* TROOPERS. A large number of residents assembled at the railway station on Thursday., night to welcome the ; local troopers who were returning, from South Africa. .The . Taranalri .Rifles, Guards, - end ■• Cadtts ' under their officers, and the Garrison Band, under Bandmaster Haigh, paneled at the Drill Hall shortly before 9 o'clock,^ and marched to the station, where the . volunteers were drawn up in* a hollow^ square formation. . ' On the. arrival of the train at 9.20 the returned troopers -Sergt. . . G.Paul, and Troopers W.Allen, and L. - Wells (Okato), were met by the Mayor, -. Mr Dockrill, and conducted to the centre ■ of the square. Trooper Lister, who re* turned a couple of weeks} back -without any official recognition, was also present The four Troopers lined up at attention, and. the Mayor addressed a few remarks > to them and the public in general. #4r Dockrill thanked the Troopers* for tha work they had done on behalf of 'New Zealand and the .Empire, anil concluded a short speech by calling for three cheers for .the Troopers. The cheers were lustilygiven. * , A procession was then formed, and the Troopers were carried shoulder high. The march,.was along St. Aubyn, Queen, and: Devon . Street*, the -"procaedinge 1 ending; at the Bank of New Zealand corner. During the proceedings 'the* Garrison Band interpreted excellent music.